Sunday, June 10, 2018

Monster Trucks Thrill Crowd, Grimes, Hirschbock Win Kart Races

White City, Oregon...June 9...The rain may have fallen, but it failed to put a damper on the biggest Southern Oregon Speedway crowd in years Saturday night. The big occasion was the first ever visit by the Malicious Monster Truck Insanity Tour.

They brought five of these 10,000 pound beasts to run on a specially prepared course with jumps spaced throughout. Perhaps the most popular vehicle in the group was Rock Star, piloted by Bill and Laura Payne. Bill drives it, while his wife Laura operates controls that handle the rear steering and throttle.

Other competitors in the field were Willie Crash piloting the California Kid entry, Ezra Wilson in Identity Theft, Dwight Matthews in Beast Mode and Nick Jones in Pound Hound. The drivers staged best trick, qualifying, match race and free style competitions. The crowd was entertained, and the kids were able to get free rides in the two Monster Trucks that were equipped with extra seats.

The crowd was delighted by the freestyle competition. The Payne's brought Rock Star out as the final truck on the track and did a wheelie the length of the course. They followed it up with two of the longest jumps of the night. Running as hard as they did, their motor caught on fire as they finished their crowd pleasing run.

Rock Star came out as the last competitor in the best trick competition. California Kid had earned a 24, based on 1-10 scores from three judges. Rock Star had just one more trick up their sleeves to earn a 26. Identity Theft clocked in at 24.02 in the qualifying effort. Rock Star was quicker, but they hit a cone on the course and were penalized five seconds.

After the newest member of the group, Major Payne, came out and tore things up to the roaring of the crowd, it was time for the match races. Identity Theft beat Beast Mode in the first match race. Rock Star beat Pound Hound. This set up a match between Pound Hound and Beast Mode for third, won by Pound Hound. Rock Star won a good battle with Identity Theft to win the match race competition.

The crowd was delighted by the freestyle round. California Kid caught some good air on the jumps to set the early best score at 26 points. Pound Hound was hurting from the match races, but Jones gave it a go before his truck gave up on him right as Rock Star entered the track. The Payne's did a wheelie the length of the course. They followed it up with two of the longest jumps of the night. Running as hard as they did, their motor caught on fire as they finished their crowd pleasing run.

Reigning champion Trevor Grimes scored the victory in the 15 lap 250 Kart Main Event. Grimes won his heat race earlier in the evening and then led all the way to win the Main Event. Brionna Fuller finished second, followed by Taylor Fuller and Vinny DeBenedetti.

Ryan Hirschbock won his first ever 15 lap Box Stock Main Event. Heat race winner Jacob James set the early pace ahead of Fuller and Hirschbock. Fuller made a low pass in Turn 2 on the fourth lap to take the lead from James as Hirschbock quickly followed him into second. Contact in the third place battle saw James get sideways and get hit by the Brandon Steinhoff, ending the race for both of them. Fuller led the pack to the green flag, but he got sideways exiting Turn 2, allowing Hirschbock and Augustine to gain the first two positions. Hirschbock led the rest of the way to win ahead of Augustine. Fuller, Grimes and Tyler Steinhoff.

Reigning Beginners Box Stock champion Malachi Johnson won the 15 lap Main Event. Johnson and Uriah Sanders were both heat race winners to share the front row of the feature race. Johnson charged into the lead at the start ahead of Sanders and Shailene Horn. The lead duo caught three slower karts on the seventh lap, and Sanders made a move on the inside into Turn 1 to take the lead. Johnson stayed with him and moved around him on the outside in Turn 3 two laps later. Johnson led the rest of the way, and Horn made a late move into second. Sanders settled for third, followed by Carson Henson and Jayme DeBenedetti.

Larry Fuller won the UAS Speedway Kart heat race and requested a last starting spot for the Main Event. Ed Grubb led for three laps in the five kart battle up front before season opener winner Jeremy Brown raced past him on the backstretch on lap 4. Larry Fuller was already in second by then, and contact in the lead battle saw Brown spinning into the infield as Fuller emerged with the lead. Fuller slowed and was passed by Johnny Hoult on lap 7. Hoult led the way until Larry Fuller made a pass on the inside down the backstretch on lap 11. Fuller let the rest of the way to win, followed by Hoult, Brionna Fuller, Grubb and Lori Fuller.